The first Toyota electric car to be sold in Australia has been delayed to the end of this year – as an updated model with a high price.
The arrival of the 2023 Toyota BZ4X electric car – an identical twin to the imminent Subaru Solterra – has been delayed for Australia.
Showroom arrivals of the first electric car to be sold by Toyota locally have been pushed back to second half of this year after originally being due at the start of 2023.
Toyota Australia says prices and specifications for the BZ4X electric car will be announced closer to local arrival timings, however the company has foreshadowed it will not be cheap.
“The reason we’ve delayed (BZ4X) actually is we want to be able secure (sufficient) supply and the latest spec,” said the sales and marketing boss of Toyota Australia, Sean Hanley. “They’re the two fundamental reasons.”
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When asked how many orders were held for the Toyota BZ4X in Australia, the executive said as the vehicle is not yet on sale, there is no formal ordering process.
“We don’t have exact (production) numbers yet … but we expect to have a reasonable launch volume for this car based on our market size.
“We know (demand for) electric cars is accelerating. We will move with the market. We will have product available and we will have choice available.”
When asked for an estimate on price for the Toyota BZ4X, the high-ranking Toyota Australia executive said: “Battery-electric cars are expensive, don’t kid yourself.
“They are expensive to build. If you want quality, safety, performance and (driving) range they are expensive.
“Lithium prices have gone through the roof. This car will not be a cheap car.”
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When asked how long it would take for electric cars to become more affordable, the Toyota Australia indicated they may never reach price parity with petrol cars.
“As we go forward – as hybrid did over 22 years and scaled up – (the cost of electric cars) will come down in price.”
However, he noted, they may eventually settle to cost “15 or 20 per cent more than a (petrol) car as they scale up (in production).”
“Hybrid took 22 years (for prices to become affordable). Electric cars won’t take 22 years, it’s moving quickly. In five to 10 years there will be a serious number of (electric cars) out there, of which Toyota will be among them.”
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